Why Jacob Departed Safely and Abraham Routed Sixteen Kings

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 3:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Genesis 28:10) "And Jacob went out": This is what Scripture says (1 Samuel 2:9), "He guards the feet of His pious ones." This refers to Abraham when he pursued the kings, as it is said (Isaiah 41:2), "Who roused up one from the east," and so forth. "But the wicked shall be silenced in darkness" (1 Samuel, there) - these are the sixteen kings whom he slew in the darkness, as it is said (Genesis 14:15), "And he divided himself against them by night."

Themes

AbrahamJacob

Biblical References

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